iGEM 2025/2026: Systems Biology & Synthetic Approaches in Achieving Sustainable Action

The escalating urgency for sustainable solutions in response to global environmental challenges finds its resonance in the fields of Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology. As the world grapples with issues such as pollution, climate change, and the depletion of natural resources, these multidisciplinary sciences offer promising solutions by engineering biological systems to meet the demands of sustainable development. The current knowledge acknowledges the potential of bioengineered systems in renewable energy and resource-efficient processes; however, we are still in the nascent stages of fully understanding and implementing these technologies. Several domains, including agriculture, industrial processes, and conservation, are seeing preliminary success through various studies. Yet significant gaps persist that require deeper investigation.

This Research Topic aims to showcase novel strategies that utilize Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology as effective tools for sustainable development. The objective is to unearth studies outlining bioengineered systems or processes that contribute to renewable energy production, biofuel production, and advances in energy efficiency. We aim to answer pressing questions on how biotechnology can be responsibly harnessed to reduce food waste, produce sustainable materials, engage in bioremediation, and combat climate change, while reinforcing the ecological balance.

To gather further insights on the intersection of biological systems and sustainability, we welcome articles that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:
● Advancements in the application of systems and synthetic biology in agriculture and the enhancement of food quality and productivity;
● Bioremediation technologies harnessing systems and synthetic biology to detoxify harmful pollutants;
● Innovative systems and synthetic biology solutions addressing climate crises through greenhouse gas reduction and carbon capture;
● Conservation efforts employing systems and synthetic biology strategies for species protection and habitat restoration;
● Sustainable revolution within the fashion and cosmetics industries, driven by systems and synthetic biology innovations.

This Research Topic encourages submissions from the iGEM community working at the intersection of these fields. We aim to foster dialogues on utilizing Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology to influence sustainable practices worldwide. Share your findings through various available formats such as original research, reviews, perspectives, technology and code, methods or hypothesis and theory. Please see our 2023 iGEM Collection and 2024 iGEM Collection for an idea of systems level papers.

The most applicable iGEM Villages include, but may not be limited to: Agriculture, Bioremediation, Climate Crisis, Conservation, Fashion and Cosmetics, and Food and Nutrition

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Sustainable Development, Systems Biology, Synthetic Biology, Bioengineering, Renewable Energy, Bioremediation, Climate Change, Resources, Agriculture

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.